Fiber-polymeric composite siding unit and method of manufacture
AssigneeAndersen Corporation
InventorsGerald L. Hendrickson, Kurt E. Heikkila, Timothy P. Murphy, Maurice N. Goeser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A siding assembly and method of manufacture are disclosed. Each siding unit is a profile of a composite material which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a cellulosic fiber. The preferred siding unit has a tapered thickness and a convex face. Each siding unit is interconnected to adjacent siding units with a tongue and groove mechanism. The preferred siding profile has a plurality of webs, and the exposed portion of the siding has a capstock layer to improve weatherability. The exposed width of the siding's face may be adjustable. The siding units are interconnected end-to-end by inserts which are positioned by means of an adhesive or thermal welding.
Claims57
A siding assembly for an exterior wall surface of a building made up of a plurality of siding units, said units adapted to be affixed to a building with similar units in overlapping horizontal courses with the units of each course lying in overlapping relation, said building having a support structure, each of said units comprising:
- a profile made of a composite material including a thermoplastic polymer and a cellulosic fiber, said material comprising about 35-60 parts of fiber and about 45-70 parts of polymer per each 100 parts of said composite material;
- said unit comprising a main body portion including a front face and a rear face, said front face being exposed on assembly of said siding unit on a building, said front face being convex;
- an upper portion extending from said main body portion, said upper portion having a plurality of slots, said upper portion including a tongue means;
- and
- a groove means sized and configured to mate with said tongue means, wherein said groove means is located behind said main body portion.
A siding assembly for an exterior wall surface of a building made up of at least a first siding unit and a second siding unit, each of said siding units having a front face, said units adapted to be affixed to a building with similar units, said building having a support structure, each of said units comprising:
- a profile made of a composite material including a thermoplastic polymer and a fiber, said material comprising about 35-60 parts of fiber and about 45-70 parts of polymer per each 100 parts of said composite material;
- said unit comprising a main body portion including said front face and a rear face;
- an upper portion extending from said main body portion, said upper portion including flange means;
- a lower portion sized and configured to mate with said flange means of a second siding unit, wherein a coating means is affixed at least to said front face of said siding units.
The siding assembly of claim wherein the wood fiber comprises a byproduct of milling or sawing wooden members.
A method of manufacturing a siding member, comprising the steps of:
- a) compounding a composite material including a fibrous material and a thermoplastic material;
- b) providing a die having a desired shape of said siding member;
- c) coextruding said composite material with a coating means so as to form a siding profile;
- d) cutting said siding profile to a desired length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.